Neymar has thrown his essential weight behind his Brazilian teammate Vinicius Junior to win the coveted Ballon d’Or award.
Recall that Vinicius Jr had a phenomenal season with Real Madrid, leading the team to Champions League glory and scoring 13 goals in LaLiga.
In addition to that, the 23-year-old was named the 2023-24 Champions League Player of the Season.
Reacting to his impressive season, Neymar said he (Vinicius Jr) deserves the highest individual honor in football.
“Vini is my choice for the Ballon d’Or.
“I have sent him messages before and after the Champions League final. He’s an incredible player and a great friend. He will surely win the Ballon d’Or,” Neymar said in an interview with ESPN.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has been a contender for the Ballon d’Or in the past but has never won. He came closest in 2015, finishing third behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Vinicius, on the other hand, is emerging as a top candidate for the award, and Neymar’s endorsement adds weight to his candidacy.
Truth Live News reports that the last Brazilian to win the Ballon d’Or was Kaka in 2007.